Harry Potter, #3
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER NINE
Overview
Dumbledore secures the school overnight after the Fat Lady is attacked and replaces her with Sir Cadogan. McGonagall increases supervision of Harry, while Snape substitutes for an ill Lupin and pointedly teaches werewolves. In a violent storm, Gryffindor loses to Hufflepuff after Dementors swarm the pitch; Dumbledore disperses them, and Harry’s Nimbus is destroyed.
Summary
Dumbledore gathers the school in the Great Hall overnight while staff search the castle. He refuses Dementor entry, assigns Sir Cadogan to guard Gryffindor Tower, and confirms the Fat Lady was attacked for denying Sirius Black the password. Snape hints at inside help, which Dumbledore pointedly rejects.
Security tightens: teachers shadow Harry and Percy tails him. McGonagall, aware Black targets Harry, allows Quidditch practices only with Madam Hooch supervising. Slytherin postpones their match, forcing Gryffindor to face Hufflepuff and Cedric Diggory in foul weather.
On the eve of the game, Snape substitutes for an ill Lupin, assigns werewolves, disparages Lupin’s teaching, penalizes Hermione as a “know-it-all,” and gives Ron detention. The storm worsens; Peeves wakes Harry early, and Crookshanks prowls, still fixated on Scabbers.
During the match, torrential rain and wind nearly blind Harry until Hermione waterproofs his glasses. Harry glimpses a huge black dog in the stands, then hundreds of Dementors flood the pitch. Overwhelmed by cold and the echo of his mother’s screams, Harry faints and falls; Dumbledore slows his descent and blasts the Dementors away, but Cedric fairly catches the Snitch and Hufflepuff wins.
In the hospital wing, the team confirms the loss. Dumbledore’s intervention is recounted, and Harry learns his Nimbus Two Thousand was blown into the Whomping Willow and smashed to pieces, leaving him shaken and broomless.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterTarget of Sirius Black; overwhelmed by Dementors during Quidditch; loses the match; broom destroyed.
- Albus DumbledoreSecures the castle; refuses Dementor entry; later repels them and slows Harry’s fall.
- Severus SnapeSubstitutes for Lupin; teaches werewolves; insults Hermione; gives Ron detention; implies inside help.
- Hermione GrangerChallenges Snape, earns points docked; waterproofs Harry’s glasses, enabling him to see in the storm.
- Ron WeasleyDefends Hermione, earns detention; supports Harry after the match.
- Minerva McGonagallWarns Harry about Black; requires supervised Quidditch practices.
- Sir CadoganReplaces the Fat Lady; sets chaotic, changing passwords and issues duel challenges.
- Oliver WoodCaptain; announces Hufflepuff switch; pushes strategy; devastated by the loss.
- Cedric DiggoryHufflepuff Seeker and captain; catches the Snitch fairly amid the chaos.
- Madam HoochOversees Gryffindor practices; referees the storm-battered match.
- PeevesWakes Harry early by blowing in his ear.
- Madam PomfreyTreats Harry after his fall; clears the team from the ward.
- Percy WeasleyOversees students in the Hall; officiously tails Harry around school.
- The DementorsSwarm the pitch, triggering Harry’s collapse; later driven off by Dumbledore.